Lifestyle

Strathroy-Caradoc is home to a vibrant arts and cultural community.

• Museum Strathroy-Caradoc hosts a diverse mix of rotating exhibitions from its permanent collection, as well as travelling exhibitions from museums across Canada.  The Museum collects objects and archival documents from every aspect of our local history.  The Museum also responds to research requests and helps with genealogical research.

• The Art Group (Strathroy-Caradoc) is a collective of local artists dedicated to promoting and encouraging the arts to all members of the community.  The Art Group's flagship gallery and workspace is located at 189 York Street.  The Art Group offers classes and participates in a number of community events throughout the year.

  Strathroy District Arts Council (SDAC) promotes the arts in Strathroy-Caradoc and the surrounding area. SDAC hosts a number of concerts and live performances throughout the year.  It also sponsors the annual Day for the Arts held in Strathroy.

• Ska-Nah-Doht Village and Museum features a village reflective of the Native settlements found in this region close to 1,000 years ago.  The village, created with information gathered by archaeologists and First Nation peoples, offers tours, workshops, and an opportunity to see how First Nations once lived.

Strathroy-Caradoc offers several conservation areas which provide residents and visitors alike a wide range of outdoor activities to enjoy.

• Strathroy Conservation Area, located within the Town of Strathroy, includes a 3-kilometre trail that links with other urban parks, arboretums, and wetlands.  The trail can be accessed at the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority Administration Centre or at the parking lot off of Head Street, just north of the Head Street bridge on the east side. 
  

• Longwoods Road Conservation Area features hiking and cross-country ski trails, group camping areas, the Carey Arboretum and trail, and Ska-Nah-Doht Village and Museum, among many other amenities.

• Mill Stream Conservation Area is a day-use park east of Mount Brydges that offers a small toboggan hill, a picnic shelter, and a nature trail suitable for fishing, hiking, and bird watching.

• Visit SydenhamDiscovery.ca and journey through one of Ontario's most biologically diverse regions.  Explore the aquatic life and geography of the Sydenham River, which flows through Strathroy.  Get to know the people who came to its forests and built its villages, and experience the life of an early European settler.

On Saturday mornings throughout the summer, the streets of downtown Strathroy are taken over by the Downtown Strathroy Market.  The community gathers together on May 28th to September 3rd from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., to browse through the wares of a wide variety of vendors, with the emphasis on hand-made crafts and a long list of food products, with the emphasis on locally-grown fruits and vegetables.

The Market features a special event, which is a night market, this year scheduled for August 6th, 2022 and will have live music and entertainment, a kids zone and dozens of local vendors and businesses. 

Follow the Downtown Strathroy Market on Facebook for up-to-date news and event listings.

Strathroy-Caradoc boasts eight elementary schools located across the municipality, and features one of the first joint-use secondary schools in Ontario.  Two schools, one public and one Catholic, share the same building and many of the same facilities.

As well, the municipality is located within easy driving distance of the University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College in London, as well as Lambton College in Sarnia.

Strathroy-Caradoc is home to a number of health service providers.  Along with the family physicians, dentists, optometrists, chiropractors, and other health professionals who serve our community, there are a number of health centres to meet the needs of your family.

Health care institutions include:

• Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital/Middlesex Hospital Alliance

• Southwest Middlesex Health Centre

• Middlesex London Health Unit

• VON Middlesex-Elgin

Long-term care facilities include:

• Strathmere Lodge

• Sprucedale Care Centre

Strathroy-Caradoc has three public libraries, each operated by Middlesex County Library.  These libraries are located in Strathroy, Mount Brydges, and Melbourne.  The Strathroy location is also home to the county library administrative office.

Strathroy-Caradoc boasts a wide variety of sports and recreation facilities, including an outdoor aquatic park, two splash pads, three arenas, beach volleyball courts, two skate parks, two tennis/pickleball courts, many outdoor sports fields, and a long list of other playgrounds and neighbourhood parks.  These facilities are kept busy by active sports and recreation programs for all ages.  Along with minor sports teams, Strathroy-Caradoc is also home to two junior hockey tams, the Jr. B Strathroy Rockets, and the Jr. C Mount Brydges Bulldogs.

As well, the Municipality operates and maintains the Strathroy Dog Park.  The off-leash dog park features nearly 5 acres of open green space, benches, lighting, shade trees, and two fenced areas for off-leash play with controlled gate access.

The Municipality provides a multitude of programs that include day camps, aquatics and recreation programs.  Our recreation programs feature sports, including leagues, registered and drop-in formats, special interest programs like Junior Trades, art and cooking, seniors centered programming like pickleball, cards and Thai Chi, plus so much more!

Special events are a growing piece of the offerings of the municipality.  The annual Ribfest, Winter Fest and seasonal events are just a few of the family focused events that happen.  Party packages are another service offered and can be geared to almost whatever the party idea presents.  Community Services staff will plan and program with the guidance of the customer.  This great community has lots of exceptional things to offer and is always working to offer more.